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5 Things to Know Today: Midterms Day, Oil Plunge, Trade Deal, Budget (Nov 3)

  Canadian Money Brief • Tuesday, November 3, 2026 It’s Election Day in the United States, oil just had its biggest one-day drop since late July, and Ottawa tables its budget on Thursday. Here are five things to know today, and what each one means for your wallet. 1. U.S. midterms: Canada is watching Americans vote in the midterm elections today. Markets are expecting Democrats to win the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate is still uncertain. Trade policy has been a campaign issue, especially in border states such as Michigan and Maine, where Republican candidates have faced pressure over tariffs that have hurt local businesses. What it means for you: The result could move the loonie, the TSX and the tariff talks over the coming days, but one election night is rarely a reason to rebuild your TFSA or RRSP. If you need to convert Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars soon, expect choppy exchange rates. 2. Oil plunges on Iran diplomacy, then bounces Oil fell sharply o...

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Canada’s Labour Market Adds 90,000 Jobs in April, Surpassing Predictions

 


In a surprising turn of events, Canada’s labour market exceeded expectations by adding 90,000 jobs in April 2024. This robust growth comes despite earlier predictions of a more modest increase. Economists had anticipated a gain of only 15,000 jobs, but the actual figures far surpassed that estimate.

Here are the key highlights from the latest Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada:

  1. Employment Growth: The Canadian economy experienced a significant boost, with employment rising by 0.4% in April. This positive trend follows six consecutive monthly declines in employment rates. Core-aged men (25 to 54 years old) and women both contributed to this growth, along with male youth aged 15 to 24.

  2. Part-Time Employment: The surge in employment was primarily driven by part-time jobs, which increased by 50,000 (1.4%) during the same period.

  3. Sector Breakdown: Several sectors saw notable gains. Employment rose in professional, scientific, and technical services (+26,000; +1.3%), accommodation and food services (+24,000; +2.2%), health care and social assistance (+17,000; +0.6%), and natural resources (+7,700; +2.3%). However, utilities experienced a decline (-5,000; -3.1%).

  4. Regional Impact: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and New Brunswick led the way in employment growth. Ontario added 25,000 jobs, while British Columbia saw an increase of 23,000. Quebec and New Brunswick also experienced gains of 19,000 and 7,800 jobs, respectively.

  5. Unemployment Rate: Despite the employment surge, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.1% in April. This stability followed a steady rise over the past year due to high interest rates affecting the economy.

In summary, Canada’s labour market demonstrated resilience and momentum in April, defying earlier projections. The unexpected surge in job creation bodes well for the country’s economic recovery, even amidst challenging circumstances.

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